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Children's exposure to airborne microplastics in school classrooms: linking indoor concentrations with respiratory deposition modelling
Summary
Researchers measured tiny plastic particles floating in the air of Barcelona classrooms and found kids breathe in dozens of these particles every school day, mostly from materials like nylon and rubber. Using a model of how particles move through the lungs, they estimated that most of what's inhaled gets cleared out through mucus into the digestive system, with less than 1% making it into the bloodstream. While this suggests the body has some natural defenses against inhaled microplastics, the study is a reminder that kids—who are still developing—are regularly exposed to this pollution in places they spend most of their day, and more research is needed to understand any long-term
Ensuring good indoor air quality in schools is essential for healthy child development. Airborne microplastics (MP) pollution has attracted increasing attention in recent years due to the potential negative impact on human health, especially in indoor environments where people spend approximately 90% of their time. The present study is one of the first to combine real classroom airborne microplastic measurements with respiratory deposition and clearance modelling, enabling a health-relevant evaluation of lung-deposited dose in children. We collected total suspended particles from indoor air in 5 primary schools (n = 25) across the urban area of Barcelona to assess MP concentrations and composition. Quantitative analysis was performed by pyrolysis coupled to gas chromatography high-resolution mass spectrometry, a size-unrestricted technique targeting ten polymer types. Total MP concentrations ranged from 64.9 ± 24.3 to 178.7 ± 47.7 ng/m with a mean value of 99.7 ± 44.4 ng/m. Nylon 6,6 and nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR) were detected in all the samples, with NBR showing the highest concentrations (36.8 ± 14.1 to 109.6 ± 23.6 ng/m). To evaluate potential health implications, the ExDoM2 dosimetry model based on the International Commission on Radiological Protection framework was applied to estimate respiratory deposition and clearance in children. On average, 32 ± 8 particles were deposited during an 8-h school day, corresponding to a mass dose of 254 ± 68 ng. After 24 h, 60-67% of the deposited mass was cleared to the gastrointestinal tract via mucociliary transport, and less than 1% was estimated to reach the bloodstream. These results highlight the relevance of inhalation exposure to MP in school environments and the necessity of additional research during critical developmental stages.